Sculptra Vs Radiesse: What is the Difference?

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To Sculpt or not....

January 4th, 2014

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I agree with all that I have read here with my physician colleagues explaining Scultpra to you dear readers. One additional point...how patient are you! I absolutely love Sculptra for many reasons but I also understand where NOT to put it. It works gradually and builds up the lower layers below the surface. It also takes an involved patient, one who will follow the advice we give to massage the areas for 5 minutes, three times per day for the week following each treatment. Patients who do this REALLY DO have the best results.

Radiesse is great too. What you see is what you get. It doesn't really get better like Sculptra does. It is repeated more often, but the cost is less. As you can see in this world of Cosmetic Dermatology, there is no right answer for every patient! Talk to your doctor about your time frame for improvement. If you have a "deadline" that is pressing ( such as your class reunion or the wedding where you will see your ex) you may need the Radiesse. When you have more time to get more gorgeous, I recommend Sculptra. Voluma is also an option but we general only put this in the cheekbone region.

Both Sculptra and Radiesse are long-term fillers

November 24th, 2008

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Lee, Both Sculptra and Radiesse are long-term fillers which work by slightly different mechanisms, but both lead to very nice results. Sculptra consists of poly-L-lactic acid, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and mannitol which attract water and stimulates collagen production.

The effect of Sculptra will increase with time. Radiesse is made of hydroxyapatite which is an effective temporary volume filler. The effect of Radiesse will not increase with time. Additionally, Radiesse may cause some temporary swelling which enhances its initial effect, but resolves over a few weeks. I hope this is helpful.

Sculptra works better for facial contouring

March 29th, 2011

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After using both Sculptra and Radiesse heavily in my practice, I find that Sculptra is superior for filling in hollow temples, defining a sagging jawline and building cheek contours. While radiesse can be used in these areas, radiesse does not last as long and does not have the smooth consistency that sculptra offers. Radiesse works better for deep smile lines, sagging mouth corners and smaller areas of facial depression. Sculptra produces far better results and lasts longer when working on facial areas that require a considerable amount of 3 dimensional contouring such as the temples, cheeks, hollows in front of the ear and jawline. Sculptra also requires a better understanding of 3 dimensional aesthetics of the face as well as greater skill on the part of the injector.

Sculptra: areas of thin skin: temple, thin heeks, around the mouth (but not the lips), jowls, depression in front of the ears, hands

Recovery:

Radiesse: slightly more bruising

Sculptra: minimal

Feel;

Radiesse: firm

Scultra: nodule if too supeficial or too concentrated

Cost:

Radiesse: more costly per cc

Sculptra: less costly per cc

My favorite combination use: raidisse for chin/nose augmentation and profiling, sculptra for the remaining facial voluminizing and thickening for folds, lines, and depressions, juvaderm for lips and tip of nose.

Sculptra tends to be more lumpy bumpy than Radiesse

November 20th, 2008

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Both sculptra and Radiesse are long term filler (lasting 1 yr or more usually). They both are used primarily for filling in nasolabial or cheek grooves and both do nice jobs at that but Radiesse tends to have less chance of leaving uneven or lumpy bumpy results than Sculptra.

Very good question...easy answer...

July 26th, 2013

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sculptra is a biostimulator...it causes the tissue to build it's own collagen which is the reason it's results last a long time...several years or more...and it's safer to inject since it's a liquid which allows the doctor to make certain it won't be injected to a blood vessel...but the downside is it takes several months to see the results...not like a filler with instant results...

radiesse while marketed as a biostimulator really works by filling and not principally by stimulating collagen...when it was initially marketed the thought was it would last for several years but expectations have reduced that to about a year or less...it's impossible to aspirate since it's so thick, so there's the potential for injecting into a blood vessel which obviously increases the possibility of problems...unlike with sculptra, the filling is immediate with radiesse...

both are injected into the same general area of the skin and both can cause lumps and other minor side effects...

so if long duration and safety is important, go with sculptra...if there's time pressure where you need results right now then radiesse is a better choice...but obviously this sacrifices some longevity and brings up the potential for vascular compromise

Sculptra vs Radiesse

April 26th, 2011

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.When treating problems due to volume loss such as cheek hollows and sagging skin beside the mouth, I will almost always use stimulatory fillers such as Radiesse and/or Sculptra. They are injected deeper, beneath the skin, and will generate more volume to create a much better lifting effect for sagging skin. They work by stimulating your skin to produce more collagen, which is why they are so effective, and give longer-lasting results too. I often combine Radiesse and Sculptra treatments for different areas of the face as I feel they each have certain advantages, when properly used, to fix specific problems due to volume loss. Radiesse is gel-based and gives instant results that lasts one to two years. It works best for cheeks, nasolabial folds, marionette lines and the jaw line. Sculptra is water based so it is easier to place more diffusely underneath the skin. The results are very gradual and take several treatments to see improvement but then will last for many years. Sculptra also works well in the cheeks and temples. It is my preferred treatment for fines lines throughout the lower face.

Sculptra and Radiesse

February 20th, 2014

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Scupltra and Radiesse are both long-term fillers. Sculptra is water based and consists of poly-L-lactic acid and usually takes three treatments scheduled approximately one month apart. Radiesse consists of hydroyxapatite. Sculptra will last up to two year and you can volumize all areas of the face and I much prefer it to Radiesse. Radiesse lasts up to one year but can not be used to do a "liquid face lift" like Sculptra.

Sculptra versus Radiesse

February 9th, 2014

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Sculptra and Radiesse are very good fillers for the face. They're both used in the midface region, temples, nasolabial folds, and marrionette regions. I tend to use Sculptra when I am trying to go for a broader area of volumizing and someone is willing to come back for several treatments as it works by a very different mechanism. Sculptra relies on your body's ability to form collagen that surrounds the poly lactic acid particles.

Radiesse tends to be much more of a what you see is what you get approached to volumizing. It is more suited to someone who has a need for more of the instant gratification, for example, someone has an event coming up in several weeks.

Sculptra is also more suited for advanced injectors. It is one of my favorite injectable product. I would make sure you visit with someone with a lot of experience with injectables.

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